Pre-Christmas booster blitz for state vaccination clinics

The Victorian Government is ramping up capacity at state-run clinics and keeping the Royal Exhibition Building and Wyndham drive-through clinics open, to help turbo charge the Commonwealth’s booster rollout before Christmas.

The Royal Exhibition Building clinic will offer walk-up appointments and open from 8.30am to 3.30pm this weekend, and 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday. Bookings won’t be required at the Wyndham drive-through clinic, which will be open 8.30am to 4.30pm each day.

More than 750,000 Victorians are eligible for their COVID-19 booster dose, which is currently due five months after the second dose. Almost 500,000 Victorians are overdue for their booster and are encouraged to book an appointment as soon as possible. Getting your booster as soon as you’re eligible is the best way to celebrate the festive season and keep you, your family and your friends safe.

There are more than a thousand places to get vaccinated across Victoria as part of the Commonwealth’s vaccination program, which includes GPs, pharmacies and state-run clinics, an official press release said.

In the lead up to Christmas, all 58 state-run vaccination clinics will offer walk-up appointments—as well as bookings—for Pfizer boosters. Moderna boosters will be available at state-run clinics from Monday. Smaller pop-up vaccination clinics are continuing throughout December in neighbourhoods to make it as easy as possible to get your vaccination today.

The pop-up clinics are tailored to the needs of the local community, with many appearing at train stations, shopping centres and community support services. Support is also available for the around 330,000 Victorians aged 12 and over who are yet to get their first dose.

For Victorians still yet to get their first and second dose due to mobility issues, an in-home vaccination service is offering appointments across metropolitan and regional Victoria. Local public health services are also catering for the specific needs of people on the autism spectrum, people with extreme needle phobia and people with complex disabilities.

Booster appointments can be booked via https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking or calling the Coronavirus Hotline on  1800 675 398. Those who need a vaccination between Christmas Day and New Year are advised to visit their local pharmacy or book ahead, with state-run clinics reopening on January 4.

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The Victorian Govt is ramping up capacity at state-run clinics & keeping the Royal Exhibition Building & Wyndham drive-through clinics open, to help turbo charge the Commonwealth’s #booster rollout before Christmas. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/MvLm7BGOOg

— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) December 17, 2021